News Briefs: Cox to appear at TLC benefit

Emmy-nominated trans actress Laverne Cox will be the honoree at Spark, the Transgender Law Center's annual benefit that takes place Thursday, October 18, at 6 p.m. at the Bently Reserve, 310 Battery Street in San Francisco.

TLC is celebrating 16 years of igniting change and doing what it takes to keep transgender and gender-nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation, organizers said.

Cox, who is best known for her work on the Netflix series "Orange is the New Black," will receive the organization's Vanguard Award.

Panel discussion on LGBTQ seniorsCommunity members, senior service and housing providers, educators, and researchers will be part of a panel discussion on LGBTQ seniors in the master plan for aging in California that will be held Thursday, October 11, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street.

The panel will include a review of the findings from the statewide voter survey, an overview of the unique needs of the LGBTQ senior population, next steps in the education campaign and advocacy for a statewide plan, and how the plan will reflect marginalized communities.

Scheduled speakers include Marcy Adelman, Ph.D., founder of Openhouse, the LGBT seniors agency, and a member of the California Commission on Aging; Bill Early, also on the state aging commission; Clair Farley, senior adviser to Mayor London Breed and director of the city's Office of Transgender Initiatives; Tom Nolan, manager of special projects for the San Francisco Department of Adult and Aging Services; Karyn Skultety, Ph.D. executive director of Openhouse; Sarah Steenhausen with the SCAN Foundation; and gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco).

Organizers said there will be time for comments. There is no cost to attend. To register online, visit https://bit.ly/2NZk3QT.

Supes OK NCTC 5-year leaseThe San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved a new five-year lease for the New Conservatory Theatre Center, a nonprofit LGBT theater company that produces plays in the city-owned 25 Van Ness Avenue building.

NCTC will see a slight rent increase, from $7,826 per month to $7,983. The new lease started October 1 and runs through September 30, 2023. It contains one more five-year extension option, according to the resolution by the board.

Two years ago, NCTC completed a $300,000 remodel project of the basement space to improve its lobby, bar, and box office areas.

The city's real estate department negotiated the new lease, and it was previously heard in the board's budget and finance sub-committee.